Real-Life Barriers to Diagnosis of Early Mycosis Fungoides: An International Expert Panel Discussion

Emmilia Hodak*, Larisa Geskin, Emmanuella Guenova, Pablo L. Ortiz-Romero, Rein Willemze, Jie Zheng, Richard Cowan, Francine Foss, Cristina Mangas, Christiane Querfeld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare, primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that is challenging to diagnose due to its heterogeneous clinical presentation and complex histology. The subtlety of the initial clinical appearance of MF can result in diagnostic delays and hesitancy to refer suspected cases to specialist clinics. An unmet need remains for greater awareness and education. Therefore, an international expert panel of dermatologists, oncologists, hematologists, and dermatopathologists convened to discuss and identify barriers to early and accurate MF diagnosis that could guide clinicians toward making a correct diagnosis. Confirmation of MF requires accurate assessment of symptoms and clinical signs, and subsequent correlation with dermatopathological findings. This review summarizes the expert panel’s guidance, based on the literature and real-life experience, for dermatologists to help include MF in their list of differential diagnoses, along with simple clinical and histopathologic checklists that may help clinicians to suspect and identify potential MF lesions and reduce diagnostic delays.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5-14
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Dermatology
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023

Funding

FundersFunder number
Trillium and Kyowa Kirin
Celgene
Helsinn

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